Nairobi: The CyberSafe Foundation, with support from Google.org, is set to launch an initiative dubbed Resilio Africa, a three-year project aimed at strengthening cybersecurity for critical community institutions across Africa. The initiative comes at a time when community offices, hospitals, schools, and public agencies increasingly rely on computers and the internet to deliver essential services and store sensitive personal data, yet many of these institutions lack adequate protection against cyber threats.

According to Ghana News Agency, Resilio Africa will support 200 Critical Community Institutions by providing free cybersecurity tools, security assessments, threat intelligence, and rapid response assistance during cyber incidents. The project is expected to protect more than two million people and secure over 15 million public records in Nigeria, Kenya, Ghana, and South Africa.

Haviva Kohl, Senior Programme Manager at Google.org, noted that the partnership reflected a shared commitment to helping communities grow safely online, emphasizing that strong cybersecurity would enable local institutions to operate confidently in an increasingly digital environment. The CyberSafe Foundation highlighted the escalating cyber threats in Sub-Saharan Africa as more institutions collected personal information without the necessary skills, resources, or systems needed for protection.

Statistics from INTERPOL indicate that ransomware attacks in Africa increased by 23 percent in 2023, with public and non-profit institutions among the most targeted. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) has also reported that more than 60 percent of African countries have low levels of cybersecurity readiness, exposing institutions to phishing, data breaches, ransomware attacks, and service disruptions.

Evidence from AfricaCERT and national computer emergency response teams shows that cyberattacks on public institutions are already widespread. In Kenya alone, more than 114 cyberattacks were recorded against community institutions in the first eight months of 2024, with attacks surging by 201 percent in early 2025. Similar vulnerabilities persist in Nigeria, Ghana, and South Africa, particularly within government and health institutions.

Resilio Africa is designed to respond to these challenges through comprehensive security assessments, customized incident response guides, and clear cyber incident management plans. The project will also deliver more than 10,000 hours of free cybersecurity support and provide training for leaders, IT staff, and general workers. In total, over 4,500 personnel across the four countries are expected to benefit from capacity-building efforts.

Confidence Staveley, Founder and Executive Director of CyberSafe Foundation, stated that Africas digital growth could not be sustained without strong cybersecurity systems. With support from Google.org, the Foundation is expanding a tested model to help key institutions stay secure, protect the communities they serve, and maintain public trust in digital systems. Applications to join the Resilio Africa programme are now open to eligible institutions through the projects official website.

Google.org, Googles philanthropic arm, has supported underserved communities since 2005 through funding, tools, and technical assistance. The CyberSafe Foundation works to make cybersecurity and artificial intelligence education accessible to underserved groups and has, since 2019, reached more than 30 million people, trained over 70,000 individuals, and supported over 4,000 small businesses to improve their digital security.